THE CAMPBELL COLLECTION

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5 BEOWULF A METRICAL TRANSLATION

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7 BEOWULF A METRICAL TRANSLATION INTO MODERN ENGLISH JOHN R. BY CLARK HALL Cambridge at the University Press 94

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9 INTRODUCTION The Anglo-Saxon poem of Beowulf, of which onlyone manuscript, preserved in the British Museum, is known to be in existence, dates from about the end of the seventh century, and the hero, a chieftain of the tribe of the Geats ( Weders, Hrethlings), who are supposed to have inhabited the south of Sweden, is thought to have lived in the sixth century. It relates three of his adventuresthe first two being closely connectedand they are all obviously unhistorical and supernatural, although they may have had some basis of fact. In the first, Beowulf comes before us as a comparatively young man, who, with a few chosen followers, sails to the country of the Danes (also called Scyldings and Ingwine) and undertakes the task of ridding their king Hrothgar's great Hall " Heorot " of a pestilent monster (Grendel) who comes by night and devours the occupants. Beowulf does, indeed, succeed in wrenching off the arm of the monster, who retreats to his refuge in

10 VI INTRODUCTION. the moors to die. But (and this forms the second adventure) another monster, said to be the mother of the first, comes quickly to the Hall for revenge, and carries off JEschere, one of King Hrothgar's most trusted nobles, to devour him in her retreat among the fens. Beowulf then heads an expedition to the moor, where he runs this second monster to earth, or rather, to water, and kills her, returning to the court of his own king, Hygelac, with rich presents and much glory. The third adventure occurs when Beowulf has grown old and become king of the Geats in succession to Heardred, the son of Hygelac. His territory has been ravaged by a fire-dragon, who keeps watch over a treasure-hoard, and has been roused to fury by some of the valuables having been stolen by an outlaw, and Beowulf, in spite of his great age, insists on setting forth to fight him single-handed. A small bodyguard goes with him, and when the fight is fiercest and it seems as though Beowulf were going to have the worst of it, they all run away except Wiglaf, a young courtier who goes to his aid. In a last desperate struggle the two kill the dragon, but Beowulf has been mortally wounded, and dies in Wiglafs arms. There are several digressions, some apparently quite irrelevant,

11 INTRODUCTION. and the poem begins with a sort Vll of prologue about the Danish royal line and a member of that line also called Beowulf, the connection of which with the body of the poem is not clear. The most important digressions relate, in all probability, to historical personages and events, the most interesting being those relating to the Swedes (Scylfings), who lived to the north of the Geats, and who overcame the latter and annexed their territory not very long after the death of Beowulf. I should advise the reader who is making his first acquaintance with Beowulf through the medium of this translation, to omit the prologue and other digressions, which are distinguished from the rest of the poem by being printed in closer type. They are full of allusions which require a good deal of explanation, and are not of great interest except in relation to the history and antiquities of the time. The following is a list of the principal personages mentioned in the poem, grouped by nations, with Those who wish to make a detailed study of the poem, including the episodes, will find material more especially intended for them in the introduction, notes, and appendices to my prose translation entitled Beowulf in Modern English Prose. Second edition. G. Allen & Co., London, 9.

12 : : Vlll INTRODUCTION. a note of the line at which they are first mentioned. Names which occur only in the episodes, or only once elsewhere, have been omitted, especially where we know nothing more of them than is stated in the passage in which they are referred to. DaneSy also called Scyldings, Ingwine, and (indiscriminately!) East, West, North, and South Danes ieschere, one of Hrothgar's courtiers, 323. Beowulf ( = Beaw), 8. Ecglaf, father of Unferth, 499. Ecgwela, an early king, 7 0. Freawaru, daughter of Hrothgar, Halga, brother of Hrothgar, 6. Healfdene, father of Hrothgar, 57. Heorogar, Hrothgar's elder brother, 6. Heremod, a bad king, 90. Hrothgar, 6. Hrothulf, treacherous nephew of Hrothgar, 07. Unferth, Hrothgar's orator, 499. Wealhtheow the Helming, Hrothgar's queen, 62. Wulfgar the Wendel, at Hrothgar's court, 348. Geats, also called Weders, Hrethlings, and (?) Hrethmen Beowulf (the hero of the poem), 343. Eofor, son-in-law of Hygelac, Hsereth, father of Hygd, 929. Haethcyn, son of Hrethel, Heardred, king, son of Hygelac, Herebeald, son of Hrethel, 2434.

13 : INTRODUCTION. IX Hrethel, king, 373. Hygelac, 94. Hygd, wife of Hygelac, 926. Wulf, brother of Eofor, Swedes, also called Scylfings Eadgils (2392) and Eanmund (2622), sons of Ohthere, exiled for rebellion against Onela. Ecgtheow the Wasgmunding, father of Beowulf, 263. Ohthere, son of Ongentheow, Onela, king, son of Ongentheow, 62 (?), 266. Ongentheow, king, 968. Weohstan, father of Wiglaf, Wiglaf, Beowulf's faithful follower, The poem of Beowulf is of the highest interest to English people, as being the earliest considerable literary monument in the English language, and the first poem of any length in a Germanic language. Apart from this, and from its value as a unique source of information as to the social conditions of our ancestors in their continental home before they migrated hither, it has sufficient literary merit to be well worth reading for its own sake. It is very uneven, to be sureit sinks every now and then to the level of the dullest prose, and has the prolixity which is characteristic of a primitive and leisurely agebut for the most part it is thoroughly good stuff, well up to the highest standard of Old English work.

14 X INTRODUCTION. The general reader should accustom himself to the constant recurrence of equivalent or parallel expressions, especially for proper names (e.g. Hrothgar is called "highly-famed king," " Healfdene's son," "widely-famed chief," " Ingwines' lord," "notable prince," "hoard-keeper of braves," all within lines ), and bear in mind, as regards the frequent references to rings and treasure, that there was no coined money in those days, and that rings and other valuables supplied its place. The present translation is an attempt to get as close as possible to the rhythm of the original, and yet at the same time to make the rendering acceptable to persons unfamiliar with the peculiar structure of Old English verse. The existing verse translations (generally excellent from the point of view of scholarship) seem to me either to lack the smoothness necessary to make the poem attractive to modern ears, or to be too archaic in diction, while there is as free a use of inversion as not infrequently that which distinguishes the Psalms of David in metre according to the version approved by the Church of Scotland. Obsolete expressions have been avoided wherever possible, the only exceptions being, I think, atheling (nobleman, king's son), bale (bale-fire, funeral pyre),

15 INTRODUCTION. XI bill (as meaning sword), burg (fortified enclosure), byrnie (corslet), forebears (forefathers), helm (meaning helmet), marks (as meaning borderlands, uninhabited regions, 347), natheless (nevertheless, 2577), sark, war-sark (coat of mail), thane (noble attendant), ivorm (in the sense of serpent, dragon), and Wyrd (Fate). In a very few passages I have used a modern word, such as obscene (line 505), in an archaic sense. As regards the form of the translation, it has been my primary object to preserve four well-marked stresses in each verse, and I have tried as far as possible to translate line for line. Occasionally the metre has been varied, in order to break the monotony of the verse. I have not usually attempted to reproduce the alliteration of the original, mainly because it is so extremely difficult to avoid the use of words which are etymologically descended from the original Anglo-Saxon, but which have got, as Archbishop Trench had it, "depolarized" in their passage down the centuries, or of other words which do not represent the original quite correctly, but which happen to have the same initial letter. Moreover, the modern reader would probably not recognize the Old English habit of allowing any initial vowel to alliterate with any other as alliteration at all.

16 Xll INTRODUCTION. I have endeavoured to be as literal as possible, but at the same time have been more catholic in my choice of readings than in the prose translation, which had Wyatt's text as its basis. The variations can easily be ascertained by reference to the notes in the prose translation, or to Wyatt's or any other recent edition of the text which records the various readings and emendations of scholars. I hope the time will come when this fine poem, the very day-spring of our national literature, will be as well-known among us as the deservedly popular Canterbury Tales^ which are at present too often regarded by English people as the first poetical collection of any merit in their language. If the following translation helps in any way to put the Beowulf in its rightful place in this respect, it will have attained its object. J. R. C. H. March 94. Beowulf, edited by A. J. Wyatt. Second edition. Cambridge University Press, 898.

17 : BEOWULF A METRICAL TRANSLATION THE PROLOGUE Lo! We have heard tell how mighty the kings of the Spear-bearing Danes were in days that are past, how these men of high birth did valorous deeds. Scyld, child of the Sheaf, took mead-settles oft from parties of foemen, from many a tribe. 5 The earl inspired fear : from the time that they found him unfriended, he got compensation for all, waxed under the welkin and prospered in fame, till each of the peoples that dwelt round about o'er the path of the whale, had to bow to his word, 0 to render him tribute. A good king was he! To him there was born in process of time a son in the castle, and him had God sent to the folk as a comfort. He knew the dire need which in past times they suffered, while lacking a lord, 5 for many a long day. So the Lord of Life gave him the Wielder of Glory a name in this world. Beowulf was renowned ; the repute of the offspring of Scyld spread abroad throughout all Scedeland. Even so a young man should compass by gifts, 20 rich presents of gold, to the friends of his sire, that later in life there may stand by his side willing comrades in turn when the tide of war comes the people do service. Deeds worthy of praise will make a man prosper with all of the tribes. 35 a *

18 2 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. So Scyld parted from life at the foreordained hour journeyed forth, skilled in war, to the fold of the Lord. They bare him away, his comrades beloved to the swirl of the sea, as he prayed them himself while he, Friend of the Scyldings, still wielded his words. 30 Dear lord of his country, he long had held sway. There stood at the haven with rings on its prow all sheeny and eager the Atheling's bark. Then laid they adown the ruler belov'd, the giver of rings, in the lap of the ship, the chief by the mast. They brought there, moreabove, 35 great store of things costly, of treasures from far. I never heard tell of a keel fitted out more fairly with weapons and trappings of war, with bills and with byrnies. There lay on his breast 40 of treasures a many, and these were to go far away, as a prize for the ocean, with him. They furnished him forth with less gifts not a whit, with less tribal-treasures, than those did who once sent him out on his way, at the spring-tide of life, 45 alone o'er the waves, being yet but a child. And they set him thereto a banner of gold high over his head ; let the sea bear him off. They gave him to ocean in sadness of soul, and mourned in their spirits. No mortal can tell can say of a sooth no ruler in hall, 50 no brave under heaven, to what place that load went.

19 I THE ADVENTURE WITH GRENDEL Thus Beowulf the Scylding dear king of the nation, was there in the strongholds, for many a long year renowned among peoples, (the chieftain his father 55 had gone from the earth) till to him there was born the famous Healfdene, who all through his lifetime, well-practised and warlike, ruled mildly the Scyldings. To him there awoke in the world children four told out in succession four captains of hosts Heorogar and Hrothgar and Halga the Good. I have heard that... was Onela's queen, the consort beloved of the warrior Swede. 60 Then was granted to Hrothgar good fortune in battle such glory in war that his friends-and-relations 65 obeyed him with gladness ; his henchmen waxed many, good plenty of fighters. He purposed in heart to give orders to men for the work of erecting a hall, a huge place for the drinkings of mead, (vaster) than men had ever seen, 70 and therewithin to share out all to young and old he had from God, except the lands and lives of men! This line is imperfect. Some syllables are missing, and Onela is a conjecture.

20 4 BEOWULF! A METRICAL TRANSLATION. Then I heard far and wide that the work of adorning the hall of the nation was put on tribes many 75 of this middle-world. So it fell on a time which men counted short that all ready it was, the greatest of hall-rooms : Heorot he dubbed it who exercised sway by his word far and wide. He belied not his promise, but portioned out rings, 80 costly gems at the feasting. The hall towered high and broad 'twixt the horns : warring waves it awaited of horrible fire. Nor again was it long ere sword-hate 'twixt the father and spouse of a daughter arose as a sequel to slaughterous strife. 85 Then the powerful sprite who abode in the gloom, though full of ill-will the grievance endured J^^that day after day festivity loud ; and bright song of the bard. the beginnings of men he heard in the hall there was sound of the harp He said, who could tell 90 in far away times, that the Lord of all might created the earth the bright-visaged plain and, for victory famed, which water surrounds set the sun and the moon as a light for to lighten the dwellers on land ; 95 and gave, to adorn the branches and leaves ; on the various creatures So then men of war the four quarters of earth, and eke life he bestowed which move and have life. in joy passed their time and in prosperous wise, till a being began a fiend out of hell to compass ill Hight Grendel was he, deeds. the grim stranger-sprite, 00

21 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 5 the great border-haunter who dwelt in the moors, the fens and the fastnesses. He, hapless wight, abode for a while in the monster-brood's home, 05 since the Maker of all things had driven them forth. The Lord everlasting had punished Cain's kin for the murder of Abel, whose slayer he was. but the Maker of all Cain joyed not in that feud, drove him far from mankind on account of that crime, no All spawn misbegotten arose from that source, monsters and elves, and sea-serpents too and giants as well who fought against God a long while, and for that they received their reward. When night had come on he l set out for to see 5 the high chamber, and how the Ring-Danes made therein their quarters, what time Then found he therein sleeping after the banquet ; the scourge of mankind. soon was ready, the beer-drinking was done. the nobly-born band they recked not of sorrow, The wight of ruin 20 grim and greedy fierce and raging ; took while resting henchmen thirty ; then departed home, rejoicing in his booty with the carrion, sought his dwelling. 25 Then in the twilight was Grendel's war-cunning Then after the banquet as day was a-breaking apparent to men, was weeping upraised Grendel.

22 ! 6 BEOWULF! A METRICAL TRANSLATION. a great cry at morning. The glorious ruler, the prince long-distinguished, disconsolate sat, exceedingly suffered, and grieved for his lieges what time they beheld the track of the loathed one, the spirit accursed : the strain was too strong, too long-drawn and awful. 30 'Twas no length of time but after one night he compassed again 35 more murderous deeds he was not one to grieve about vengeance and crime, he was fixed on such things. Then 'twas easy to find a couch further off and elsewhere for himself the man who sought out a bed in the outbuildings when there was shown 40 and told him in truth by a manifest sign the hall-warder's hate. He who 'scaped from the fiend for safety kept farther away, after that And thus he prevailed and unrighteously fought, alone against all, until idle and void 45 stood the best of all houses. A long while passed by : the Friend of the Scyldings l affliction endured, all manner of woes, of sorrows profound, for the space of twelve years, for that after a while it was openly known to the children of men 50 known sadly in song that whiles Grendel fought against Hrothgar, and waged feuds begotten of hate, and treacherous war for many a half-year continual strife ; nor would he make peace with ever a man of the force of the Danes, 55 Hrothgar.

23 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. J avert doom of foul death, or for tribute make terms, nor had any wise man a ground to expect a fortune more bright but the terrible ghoul, at the murderer's hands, the dark shadow-of-death kept up the pursuit of young and of old, 60 laid wait for and trapped them, held, night after night, the mist-laden moors. No mortal doth ken where such wizards of hell So many misdeeds in their wanderings go. did the foe of mankind, the dread goer-alone achieve, time after time, iniquities hard. He held Heorot, the gold-adorned hall, nor coulo^^^rothgar) approach through the darkness of night, the gift-seat, that prize, 65 on account of trtp^prd^' and he knew not His mind. To the Scylding's \d^u loid llififti WUL fulwub^joiwoe, 70 and breaking of^art. In conference often sat many^chief and discussed about succour, what h^st it might speed for stout-hearted men to contrive 'gainst the horror that came unforeseen. ^Jney promised, at times, at their heathenish fanes 75 oblations on altars, that the Slayer of Souls and prayed in set speech would furnish them help for the woes of the folk. Such custom they had, such heathenish hope ; they bore hell in mind in the thoughts of their hearts. They knew not the Lord, Appraiser of deeds, knew no all-ruling God, 8 nor to worship had learned the glorious Ruler. the Protector of heaven,

24 8 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. who in direst distress His portion is woe must needs thrust his soul in the grip of the flames ; may hope for no comfort, 85 no manner of change. But weal is for him who after his death may look to the Lord and reach longed-for peace So seethed Healfdene's son in the Father's embrace. without ever a break with the cares of the times. The sapient prince 90 could not ward off the woe. Too great was the hardship, too loathly and long, malevolent outrage, which had come on the folk, of night-bales the worst. These doings of Grendel had Hygelac's thane, a brave chief of the Geats, heard about in his home. 95 among mortals was he The greatest of all in bodily strength both noble and stalwart. a good wave-traverser, in the days of this life, He bade them prepare and said he would visit the warrior-king, the notable prince, 200 across the swan's road, 2 For that journeying forth as he had need of men. did men of good sense blame him never a whit though they loved him right well ; they urged on the brave soul, and sought omens of good. From among the Geats' folk the warrior brave 205 had chosen armed men the most keen he could find. As one of fifteen he went down to the ship andskilled seaman himself the chief led to the coasts of the land. Beowulf. * i.e. the sea. them forth

25 ; BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 9 The time wore away. On the waves was the bark, 20 the boat under the cliff. stepped on to the ship : sea buffeted sand. were borne by the heroes Fighting men in full gear the eddies curled round it To the lap of the vessel the brilliant trappings, magnificent war-gear. The men shoved it off, 25 the timber-bound bark, Then over the wave-ridge, on its willing emprise. by wind hurried forward, the foamy-necked floater, most bird-like, departed, until in due time with the lapse of a day so far had she journeyed the ship with curved prow 220 that those voyaging in her saw coast-cliffs to glisten sea-headlands colossal. and ended the voyage. caught sight of the land, and steep mountain slopes So the sea-path was traversed, Quickly from thence and upwards folk from the Weders' country mounted the solid earth 225 made fast their sea-wood * ; corslets clattered, gear of fighters. Thanked they God, who made the sea-paths easy for them! Then the Ward of the Scyldings, who had as his office to watch o'er the sea-cliffs, saw men from the rampart 230 bear over the bulwarks the bright-gleaming bucklers, well-ordered war-gear. Much did he question in the thoughts of his heart, who these persons might be. Off started he then on his horse to the shore, this servant of Hrothgar, and fiercely he shook 235 the stout spear in his hands, asked in parleying words Ship.

26 0 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. " What mortals are ye, ye bearers of shields, " with byrnies bedight, who hither have brought " a towering ship the flood-ways across, " and over the seas? Lo! Long have I been 240 " a guard of the coast and kept border-watch, " so that on Danish land we might not suffer hurt " from a harrying force of foemen in ships. " No bearers of shields have e'er made the attempt " so coolly to land. Ye know not at all 245 " the pass-word of those who are comrades in arms, " permission of kinsfolk. Ne'er on earth have I seen " a mightier earl, a chief in his armour, " than one of you is. No serving-man he " with weapons made brave, if his looks don't belie him, 250 " his features most fair. And now I must know " from what stock ye are sprung, before ye go hence " and as treacherous spies on the land of the Danes " go further afield. Now, ye strangers from far, " sailers over the sea, let my candid opinion 255 " sink into your ears. Ye had better make haste " and do me to wit from what place ye are come." To him then the head of them all made reply the chief of the troop and his word-hoard unlocked. " Geatish folk by race are we, 260 ; " table-friends of Hygelac. Known of all men was my sire, " Ecgtheow hight, a noble prince. " He lived many years before passing away, " an old man, from his home. All over the world 265 does many a sage remember him well.

27 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. II And now we have come to visit thy lord with friendly intent the son of Healfdene the shield of his folk. Do thou counsel us well! A great errand we have, to the notable prince to the lord of the Danes. I think it is meet that none of it be hid. And now you will know if it really is true, as we credibly heard, 270 that the Scyldings among there is some kind of foe, secret worker of ill, who grimly gives forth, 275 in the darkness of night, inexpressible malice, blood-shedding and shame. For this I can give to Hrothgar good advice in largeness of heart, how he, wise and good, may the foe overmatch, if haply for him there should e'er be an end 280 of this pressure of woes, that solace may come and the wellings of care become cooler at last, nor for aye after this he may suffer hard times, the crushings of ill, so long as the best of all houses remains there above in its place." 285 The watchman replied as he sat on his horse, a fearless retainer " The warrior keen, " whose judgment is good, himself will find out " if there difference is 'twixt your words and your works. " I gather that this is a band of men true 290 " to the Scylding-foiks' lord. Go forth and bear with you " your harness and arms. I will show you the way. " Moreabove, I will bid the men of my troop to faithfully guard against all kinds of foes " that floater of yours, your newly tarred ship 295

28 : 2 BEOWULF! A METRICAL TRANSLATION. " where it lies on the sand, until, later on, " the curly-prowed bark bears back the dear man " o'er the streams of the sea to the Weders' confines. " Sure a doer of good such as he will avail " to pass safe and sound through the stress of the fray." 300 So they set out to go, the broad-bellied ship by anchor held. o'er the cheek-guards ; and the bark remained still, swayed about on the ropes, Swine-shapes glittered gilt and gleaming, hardened by fire, the boar * watched o'er 305 the warlike man. They hurried on together went until they saw the timbered house to men on earth splendid with gold, best known among halls under heaven, where the chief dwelt. 30 Its lustre spread o'er many a land. Then the valiant in fight pointed out to the men the bright-shining home where the proud heroes dwelt, that straight there they might go. Fighting man as he was, he wheeled round on his horse, and then uttered these words " My time for departing is come. May the Father " all-powerful bring you by His gracious favour 35 " safe and sound through your journeys. I will to the seaboard " to keep the look out against parties of foemen." The street was stone-paven ; together they went 320 The helmets were surmounted by figures of boars (sacred to the god Freyr).

29 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 3 with the path as their guide, each bright iron ring, sang out in their sarks on their way to the hall, and each war-byrnie shone, hard and linked by the smith as they hied them along in their war-harness dread. They put up their shields, these sea-weary men, 325 against the house-wall, their bucklers right hard. Then bent they to bench, their harness of war. the mariners' arms, the men's byrnies rang The javelins stood, in a heap by themselves ash-wood gray at the tip, for the iron-clad troop 330 with weapons was brave. There, then, a proud chief x asked the warrior-band to what stock they belonged : " Whence have ye brought these plated shields, " these corslets gray and visored helms, " this heap of war-shafts? I am Hrothgar's 335 " man and herald. Bolder strangers " never have I seen so many. " Ye seek Hrothgar not as exiles " but, I ween, as daring heroes! " To him then made answer the Weder's proud lord 340 renowned for his strength ; said these words in reply : the helmeted brave " We sit as companions " at Hygelac's board. Beowulf is my name. To the son of Healfdene, the chieftain renowned, " I desire to make known the errand I have " to speak to thy lord, if this boon he will grant " that in goodness of heart he will let us go in." 345 Wulfgar, Vendel prince, made answer : his stoutness of heart was known far and wide, Wulfgar, see line 348.

30 4 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. his wisdom and pluck. " I will ask about that 350 " from the friend of the Danes, from the Scylding-foiks' lord, " dispenser of rings, in accord with your prayer- " the notable prince about your emprise " and quickly bring back whatever reply " the chieftain thinks fit to give me for thee." 355 Then quickly he turned ripe in years and most hoar to where Hrothgar sat with his body of earls, went fearlessly forth till he stood full in front of the Danish lord's shoulders. Court custom he knew. Thus Wulfgar outspake to his friend and his lord : 360 Hither men from afar of the race of the Geats on their journey have come o'er the ocean's expanse. The chiefest of all is Beowulf named by the warrior-band ; and these make request that they, O my prince, that they may with thee 365 have exchangings of talk. Deny them not this to have converse with thee, Hrothgar the kind! In their harness of battle they seem to deserve the good will of earls ; doughty, sure, is the chief who hither has led these heroes of war." 370 Then Hrothgar made speech, the Scylding-foiks' shield : I knew him of yore in his childhood's young days, men called his old sire by the name Ecgtheow. To him Hrethel the Great gave as wife in his home the one daughter he had ; and now has his offspring 375 come hardily here Men who journeyed by sea their tribute of gifts, to see a true friend. and brought to this land to make friends with the Geats

31 ; BEOWULF! A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 5 " were wont to say this that the mighty-in-war had thirty men's strength in the grasp of his hands. 380 " And now hither to us, the West Danish folk, " has the all-holy God directed the man " Grendel's terror to meet, as a sign of His grace. " On him, the brave man, I shall treasure bestow " in return for the valorous thought of his heart. 385 " Now do thou make haste and bid them come in " all together before me, these men of one blood " tell them also in words how welcome they are " to the folk of the Danes." Thereupon Wulfgar went to the door of the hall and brought word from within. 390 My conqu'ring prince, the East Danes' lord bids me to say he knows your stock " and ye are welcome here to him, " brave-minded men, across the sea. " Now may ye go in your war-gear 395 u with helmets on and see Hrothgar. " Here let your shields and wooden shafts abide the end of the debate." Thereupon rose the chieftain. Many heroes were round him a brave crowd of liegemen. Some stayed in their places 400 and guarded the arms as the Hardy one bade them. Together they hied, under Heorot's roof the messengers led them. On went the brave hero, bold under his helmet, and stood by the hearth-place. Thus Beowulf discoursed ; the mail on him shone, 405 the armour-net, linked by the skill of the smith.

32 l6 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. " Hail, Hrothgar, to thee! I am Hygelac's kin " and his warrior-thane. I have tried in my youth " to do many brave deeds. To me Grendel's affair " has been plainly made known in the land of my birth. 40 " Now voyagers say that this paramount house, " this hall-building, stands good for nothing and void " when at evening the sun has its brightness concealed " by the cloak of the heavens. Then folk of my land, " the wisest of men, and the best in repute 45 " exhorted me thus ; that to thee I should go " Hrothgar, my lord, for the virtue they knew " of my bodily strength and had seen it themselves " whenas, battered by foes, I returned from the fight " at which I bound five, laid the monster-brood low 420 " and sea-devils I slew on the billows by night. " I was at my last gasp but the Weders avenged, " (they brought woe on themselves) and their enemies crushed. " And now I will settle the matter alone " with Grendel the giant, the hideous sprite. 425 " Of thee now, lord of illustrious Danes, " I make a request Shield of the Scyldings " for only one boon. Deny it me not, " Defence of brave men, Friend and Lord of the folk, " now thus far I have come ; that I and my band 430 " of nobly-born men, this valiant troop, " may purge Heorot alone : and besides, I have heard, " that the terrible wight in bravado of soul " about weapons recks not ; and that on my account " the lord Hygelac may rejoice in his heart, 435

33 : BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 7 this do I renounce, to carry a sword, or a yellow-hued shield and a broad, to the fray, but I with my grasp will seize hold of the fiend and contend for my life, deadly foe against foe. And the one whom death takes shall rest fully assured 440 that his fate is from God. If he comes off the best I doubt not but that he will fearlessly eat these our men of the Geats, as so oft he has done the Hrethmens' fine flower. You will never have need to cover my head, but me he will have 445 all dripping with blood if death takes me away. If he comes off the best the lone-goer will bear off the blood-beflecked corpse, set his mind on a feast, without mercy will eat, and will stain his swamp-lair. You will not, after that, need to take any thought 450 for my bodily food. Yet send Hygelac, pray, if the fight takes me off, this best of war-corslets, most splendid of garments, which covers my breast. Hrethel had it of yore, it is Wayland's own work. " Fate goes aye as it must! 455 Then Hrothgar outspake, the Scylding-folk's chief Beowulf, my friend, thou hast visited us for desperate fighting in kindness of heart. Thy father set going the greatest of feuds ; the hand-slayer he of Heatholaf, 460 the Wylfings among, so that, fearing a war, the Weder-folk dared not to keep him with them. From thence he went forth to the South-Danish folk, the notable Scyldings, across the wild waves ; that was when I first ruled the folk of the Danes 465 s

34 , l8 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. " held sway, as a youth, o'er a far-stretching realm " and rich city of heroes. Then was Heorogar dead, " he, though older than I, was no longer alive, " Healfdene's son too. He was better than I " After that I made up the quarrel with gold ; 470 " to the Wylfings I sent ancient treasures across " the sea-water's broad back ; and he pledged me his troth. " To let any man know what Grendel has wrought " of wrack in Heorot, and by sudden attacks, " with his plottings of hate, is a task which brings grief 475 " to my veriest heart. The guard of my house, "jny war- troop, is minished. Into Grendel's dread toils " Fate has gathered them up. Yet God can restrain " the wild worker of ill from his doings, with ease. " Oftentimes fighting men, exalted by beer, 480 " have made it their boast, with their ale-cups in hand, " that they would await the warfare of Grendel " with terrible swords in this banqueting-hall. ' Then this mead-hall was stained, in the morning, with blood " this magnificent house, at the dawning of day ; 485 '* all the boards of the benches bespattered with gore " and the hall with sword-blood. Then the fewer I had " of dear trusty lieges, when death took them off. Now sit at the feast and unbosom thy thoughts, thy war-fame to our men, as thy spirit suggests." 490 Then they cleared them a bench in the hall where men drank for the men of the Geats, in a place by themselves, and the stout-hearted fighters, went thither to sit in the pride of their strength. A serving-man waited and bare in his hands the ale-cup bejewelled 495

35 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 9 poured out the bright mead, and a bard sang anon clear-voiced in Heorot. There was revel of heroes a numerous band of Danes and of Weders. Then Unferth discoursed, of Ecglaf the son, who sat at the feet of the Scylding-folk's lord, 500 and disclosed hidden hate. The voyage of Beowulf, the sea-goer bold, was most galling to him ; he could not endure that among other men any one under heaven should e'er have more fame in this mid-world than he. 505 " Art thou the same Beowulf who strove against Breca, " and on the wide sea contended in swimming ' and tempted the waves in presumptuous wise ; " and ye ventured your lives on the waters so deep " for a foolhardy boast? Nor could ever a soul, 50 " be he foeman or friend, get you two to desist " from your sorry emprise, when ye swam on the sea, " when ye clasped with your arms ebb and flow of the deep " measured out the sea-paths fought your way with your hands " glided over the ocean ; the sea surged with waves ; 55 " through the waters unrest seven whole nights did ye toil " in the watery realm, and at swimming he beat you, " he had the more strength. Him then in the morn " did the ocean cast up on the Heathoremes' land, ' and thence, by his folk well-beloved, he sought out 520 " the land of the Brandings, his welcome domain, " the fair stronghold city in which he had folk, and a castle and treasure. The son of Beanstan

36 20 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. " performed well against thee all he pledged himself to. " And for thee I expect a much greater mishap 525 " though in onslaughts of war thou hast ever been good " in desperate fighting if closely thou dar'st " lay for Grendel in wait for the space of a night." Then spake Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow : " Comrade Unferth, much thou talkedst, 530 " beer-besotted, about Breca " and his voyage. Soothly say I " that I had more strength in swimming might on water than all others. " In our youth we made a bargain 535 " and determined (we were both scarce " out of boyhood) that we'd risk our " lives on ocean ; and we did so! " While sea-swimming, bare swords had we " held them tightly for protection 540 " from whale-fishes. From myself far " on the flood waves float he could not " faster on water, nor could I leave him, " Thus together we two abode on the sea " for the space of five nights, till the flood, the rough seas,545 " and the bitter-cold air, with the darkening night, " drove us different ways, and a savage north wind " blew dead in our teeth. How rough were the waves! The sea-beasts' wrath was set aflame ; " against the foes my body-sark, 550 " hard, linked by hand, furnished me help " the woven mail, adorned with gold, " upon my breast. A grizzly ogre

37 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 2 grimly clutching, gripping tightly, dragged me downwards. Yet I reached him 555 the sea-monster, by good fortune with my sword-point. By my hand the mighty sea-beast died from fighting. Thus and often did the wretches press me sorely. With my faithful 560 sword I paid them what was owing. Evil doers! Not in feasting on my person had they pleasure, sitting gorging under ocean ; but at morning, cut by sword-blades, 565 up they lay along the foreshore ; swords had killed them, and henceforward no man's voyage can they hinder on the wide sea. Eastwards, light came, God's bright beacon (lulled was ocean) 570 so that sea-capes windy bulwarks. I could make out Given courage, Fate saves undoomed heroes often! So I prospered that my sword killed nine sea-devils. I have never heard tell 575 " of a worse night encounter below the heavens' roof " nor of harder pressed men on the eddying seas. " Thus I bore it alive the grip of the foes " by my travels tired out. Then the sea bore me off, " the flood, by its flow, the surge of the waves, 580 " to the land of the Finns. Never once have I heard " such desperate fights, such peril of swords,

38 22 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. " related of thee. Never yet at the war-play " did Breca so bravely, nor thou thyself either, " such a deed with bright sword-blades (I boast not of that), 585 " though thou tookedst the life of thy very own brothers, " the chief of thy kinsfolk nor will thy wits save thee " from reaping in hell thy accursed reward. " In sooth, I tell thee, son of Ecglaf, 590 " Grendel, dread fiend, never would have " worked such terrors to thy master " harm in Heorot were thy pluck, " thy soul, so warlike as thou sayest. " But he has found out that he needs not to dread 595 " the sword-storming scare, the hate of your folk, " the conquering Scyldings, exceedingly much. " He takes pledges by force ; for no Danish folk " shows he any respect, but for pleasure he fights, " he kills and he feasts \ and he recks not a whit 600 " that the Spear-Danes oppose. But now shall I show him " the power and the might, the war-craft of the Geats, " nor will I delay. Then let whoso wills boldly go to drink mead when the glow of the morn " of a new day has shone on the children of men, 605 " the radiant sun from its place in the south! " Then the Giver-of-treasure, was filled with delight. relied upon help ; grey-haired, battle-famed, The Lord of the Bright-Danes shepherd, he, of his people, he gathered from Beowulf his settled resolve. 60 Hrothgar.

39 ; BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 23 There was laughter of heroes, the din sounded forth, and converse was gladsome. Wealhtheow came out Hrothgar's queen, who observed gold-bedecked, she saluted the customs of court the men in the hall, and, as being a wife of high birth, she gave first 65 the cup to the Ruler x and bade him have joy of all the East Danes, at the drinking of beer and be kind to his folk. So he, victor and king, partook in glad mood of the cup and the feast. Then the Helming princess went about everywhere 620 to the old and the young, the richly-set cup, for her, jewel-decked queen, the goblet of mead. and she handed around until the time came to Beowulf to bear She greeted the prince of the Geats, and thanked God 625 in well-chosen words and that now she might look in these terrible times. took hold of the cup that her wish was fulfilled to some noble for help He, the rough man of war, from Wealhtheow's hands, and then uttered speech, all alert for the fray. 630 Out spake Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow : " When I took to the sea, and sat with my band " of men in a ship. I made up my mind " that once and for all I would put into act " the wish of your folk, or fall on the field 635 " in the grip of the foe. I purpose to show " the courage of earls, or in this hall of mead " to pass my last day! " The lady liked well these words of the Geat, his boastful discourse, and went, gold-adorned, 640 Hrothgar.

40 Now keep thou and hold this magnificent house ; 24 BEOWULF! A METRICAL TRANSLATION. free-born queen of the folk, by her master to sit. Then again, as of yore, inside of the hall were spoken brave words ; the people rejoiced with the clamorous sound of a conquering folk, till Healfdene's son straightway wished to retire 645 to his rest for the night ; war was purposed, he knew, 'gainst the high hall when the sun's light they could not see and darkening night was over all, when shadowy forms came striding on, pale 'neath the clouds! 650 The whole band rose ; then he,hrothgar did Beowulf greet, his fellow-man, and wished him luck, the wine-hall's rule, and said these words : " Never since I could wield my hand and my sword 655 " have I given the charge of the Danes' noble hall " to one of my men. Now I do so to thee! " recollect thy repute, show thy daring and might, " keep watch for the foe. If thou comest away 660 " from that feat with thy life, what thou wilt shall be " thine! Then away from the hall with his escort of braves did King Hrothgar depart, the Scylding's Defence. The war-lord desired to rejoin Wealhtheow his consort, the queen. The glorious king, 665 so people were told, had appointed a watch against Grendel in hall who was specially charged by the prince of the Danes, and watched for the monster.

41 " BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 25 The chief of the Geats trusted firmly withal in the pride of his might and the grace of his God. 670 Then from off him he put the helm from his head j his richly chased sword, his corslet of iron, to his henchman he gave most precious of blades, and bade him take care of those trappings of war. Then Beowulf the brave, of the tribe of the Geats, 675 spoke a blusterous word ere he went up to bed " I account that in fights and in matters of war I am no whit less good than is Grendel himself, and hence with my sword I won't put him to death deprive him of life, though I very well might. 680 He knows not the good art of the blow in return how to hew at my shield, brave although he may be in the works of brute force. But we shall not by night bring the sword into use, if he'll venture to join in a weaponless fight. May God the All-wise, 685 holy Lord, after that, give the victory so as it seemeth Him best! Then the hero lay down ; the pillow received the imprint of his face. Around him there sank many seafarers keen on their couches in hall, 690 and not one of them thought that ever from thence he would get back again to the home of his love, his folk and the borough where he was brought up ; for they had been told that by murderous death far too many had died of the folk of the Danes 695 in that chamber of wine. But to them the Lord gave battle-speed from His loom ; x to the tribe of the Weders A strange mixture of Christianity and Northern mythology.

42 ; 26 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. His favour and help, overmastered their foes in such wise that they all through the prowess of one, through the might of one man. It is known of a truth 700 that the all-mighty God has ruled for all time o'er the race of mankind. Then in black night there came, the Shade-goer, stalking. The fighters all slept, save one of them, all who should over that house of horn-gables have watched. Men knew it full well 705 that the worker of ill could not hurl him x below to the shadowy world but by leave of the Lord. And so he, wide awake, in rage and in anger awaited in heat the result of the fray. Then out from the moor and the mist-laden slopes 70 came Grendel apace ; God's anger he bare. The worker of ill thought within the high hall to take one in his toils of the race of mankind. On he went 'neath the clouds till he clearly descried the banqueting house, the gold-hall of men, 75 with ornaments brave. That was not the first time that a visit he'd made to Hrothgar's abode. In the days of his life whether early or late he had never such heroes such hall-wardersfound. So thus to the hall this wight journeyed on, 720 of pleasures bereft. The door gave forthwith, though bound with forged bands, when touched by his paws then he fiendishly tore down Beowulf. the mouth of the house,

43 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 2J overflowing with rage. And anon after that he was treading, the fiend, the beautiful floor. 725 In anger he moved, and an unlovely light, most like to a flame, stood forth from his eyes. He saw in the hall a number of men, banded folk of a tribe a body of braves all together asleep. Then he laughed in his heart, 730 the hideous brute, and thought before day to sever the life from the flesh of each man, for hope had come to him of feasting his fill. Yet after that night it was not again the decision of Fate that more he should eat 735 of the race of mankind. Then Hygelac's kin, great in prowess, observed how the doer of ill would set him to work with his sudden attacks. The terrible fiend had no mind to delay but quickly he seized, as first victim of all, 740 a sleeping campaigner and ate him, unwarned, bit his bone-binding thews, drank the blood up in streams, swallowed bite after bite. He had eaten him up the dead manin a trice, yea, his feet and his hands. And then, stepping forth, to close quarters he came 745 and seized with his hands the hero at rest the valiant in heart he reached out against the foe with his claw, who grasped him at once and with purpose of mind threw his weight on his arm Then the master of crimes quickly realised this, 750 that on this middle-world, these regions of earth, he never had met with a bigger hand-grip i.e. Beowulf threw his weight on the monster's arm.

44 28 BEOWULF! A METRICAL TRANSLATION. in any man else. there came over him fear ; any faster for that. In his heart and his soul yet could he not thence His mind desired flight he would 'scape in the dark seek the rabble of fiends. At no time in the past had he been in such plight. Then Hygelac's proud kin remembered his speech of the evening before. Upright he stood 755 and held him l fast ; his l fingers cracked, 760 the fiend moved off, the earl went too ; far off to wend, the monster thought, where'er he might away from thence and gain his fen-lair, knew his fingers' power was in the foeman's grip. A sorry journey that, 765 which he, the baleful fiend, had ta'en to Heorot. The warriors' hall resounded ; there came to all the Danes, to every castle-dweller, confusion, to the earls. brave heroes one and all, Both wardens of the house were angry and enraged ; the building rang again, 770 and great the marvel was the hall of wine withstood the savage combatants, and fell not to the ground fair dwelling of mankind but it was made so fast within, and eke without, by clamping-bands of iron be-smithed with cunning wit. There started from the sill, 775 as I have heard men say, many a drinker's seat made beautiful with gold, where the two foemen fought. Sage Scyldings ne'er dreamed in the days that were past that ever a man could rend it apart, horn-gabled and brave, by hook or by crook, 780 though a girdle of flames might enfold it in smoke. This refers to Grendel.

45 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. 29 There rose up a sound then abundantly strange to the North-Danes there came a right hideous fear to each one of the men who heard with their ears the shriek from the wall the withstander of God 785 singing out his sad lay, his song of defeat the captive of hell wailing over his wound. Fast held him the man who was above all the strongest in might in the days of this life. 790 The Shelter of Earls the murderous guest and never supposed to the race of mankind. would by no means allow to escape with his life that that life was of use There many a chief of Beowulf's clan old heirlooms swung \ 795 they wished to shield their leader's life, the famous prince if so they might. They knew not this hard mettled men and skilled in war who joined the fray and thought to hew this way and that, to have his life no sword on earth however good, could ever touch A spell he'd laid no battle-bill, the cursed foe. on conquering arms 800 all sorts of blades. In this life's day 805 his breaking up his alien soul where fiends have rule. Then he who of yore must wretched be, must travel far had carried out much of the joy of his heart, of crime 'gainst mankind 80 became ware of this he, the foeman of God

46 30 BEOWULF : A METRICAL TRANSLATION. that his bodily frame but Hygelac's kinsman, had him fast by the hands. did not stand him in stead, the valorous man, Each, as long as he lived, was abhorrent to each. The hideous monster 85 endured deadly hurt ; a great manifest wound ; the bone-bindings burst, the triumph of warfare, on his shoulder appeared the sinews flew open, and to Beowulf there came for Grendel must thence escape to the fen-side seek out his sad home ; 820 he knew only too well that the days of his life had come to an end the count of his days. The desire of all Danes had issued in fact through that murderous fight. He who first came from far, wise and dauntless of heart, 825 had made a clean sweep and freed it from harm. in his valorous deeds. had turned into fact and taken away of the hall of Hrothgar In his night's work he joyed, The chief of the Geat-men his boast to the East Danes, all the trouble of mind sorrow gendered of spite, which they felt in time past and had to endure no trifling grief. when the Daring-in-war through pressure of force, That was evident proof put beneath the wide roof 830 the hand, arm and shoulder of Grendel,his grip 835 was together all there. Then, as I have heard tell, there were in the morn campaigners a many the gift-hall around. The chiefs of the folk came from far and from near along the highways the marvel to see, 840